• by Wayne Friedman , February 15, 2022

Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting Co. is launching its sixth network -- a locally based digital TV network called Story Television Network, which will focus on non-fiction, historical and factual programming.

The network will be available through other TV station groups including Hearst Television, Marquee Broadcasting, and Maranatha Broadcasting -- via their digital subchannels.

Series that will be included on the channel include: "Biography," "The Men Who Built America," "World War II in HD," "Modern Marvels," "Mankind: The Story of All of Us."

Other Weigel digital TV networks -- so called “diginets” -- include MeTV, Decades, Start TV, Heroes & Icons and Movies!

Other major TV networks that own these digital over-the-air channels include E.W. Scripps, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Nexstar Media Group and Tegna.

Some of the major over-the-air digitally based TV networks include Antenna TV, Bounce TV, Buzzr, Comet, Cozi TV, Escape, Newsy, GetTV, Court TV Mystery, Grit, Heroes & Icons, Justice Network, Laff, MeTV, Movies!, Retro TV, and This TV. Many of these networks began starting up around a decade and a half ago.

In addition to its digital TV networks, Weigel owns -- or through affiliate companies, has interest in -- 25 independent TV stations in markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Houston.